Ablaze! in the Northern Illinois District

Seeing God's Plan
By Brenda Ulrich

I recently attended an informational meeting for San Pablo, a Hispanic mission outpost of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Aurora, Illinois. I was especially curious about this ministry, since my husband and daughter had recently returned from a week-long Servant Project in Honduras in Central America.

Just like many an Anglo-Lutheran event, this one began with food! While enjoying the traditional Hispanic dinner prepared by the women of San Pablo, I spoke to Lydia, one of the leaders. Lydia told me her story. She and her brothers and sisters came to the U.S. from Mexico when she was young. Her parents were migrant workers along Highway 126 in Illinios, rural Kendall County. Through hard work, they gave their children opportunities they never had. Lydia works in management and two of her siblings are teachers.

Those opportunities were not available to the people my husband and daughter met in Honduras. Most people have only a 6th grade education because it costs $500 to go to high school. An average salary is $50 a week, so higher education, even high school, is beyond the reach of most families. I understood why so many immigrant families are eager and grateful for minimum wage jobs here in the United States, because they offer a chance to improve the lifestyle most have grown up in.

Lydia's family was Catholic, but only attended church on Christmas and Easter or for a baptism or first communion. But Lydia was drawn to San Pablo. It was right in her neighborhood; a Spanish service with Spanish music. She felt the Spanish hospitality and the sense of family. Her neighbors were there. This was home. Lydia now serves her church in a variety of different leadership roles.

There are many Lydia's at San Pablo. Over 100 people presently attend worship services; 100 people hearing what Jesus Christ has done for them.

San Pablo is young, a ministry of the people of St. Paul's Lutheran in Aurora. St. Paul's is old, started more than 145 years ago, when Aurora was a small German settlement. And for most of its 145+ years, it remained Anglo, German, and traditional.

But through the years, as the economy and employment situations have changed throughout the United States, many Hispanics made Aurora their home. The previously Anglo-German neighborhoods of modest homes provided affordable housing for the Hispanic community. Many Anglos migrated farther west, into the growing areas of West Aurora, Yorkville, and Plainfield.

I will never forget Guadelupe's testimony that night when she tearfully told the mostly Anglo audience, "I thank God that through His plan, the Germans built the church that my family & I are able to attend today. Thank you."

What an inspiring evening! What a privilege to see God's plan in place for over 145 years and the awesome wonder of His love for all people.

Brenda Ulrich and her husband Larry reside in Oswego, Illinois. They attend Cross Lutheran Church in Yorkville and are the parents of two grown children. While working as an administrative assistant, Brenda volunteered her organizational skills in various capacities in her church. She now works part-time for People Ablaze!